Theresa May's Husband Is "Her Rock" As She Looks To Become The Next Prime Minister

The United Kingdom's Home Secretary Theresa May, described as having shown a necessary calmness after Britain's largely unanticipated exit from the European Union, is set to become the country's next prime minister. The news comes as current Prime Minister David Cameron's resignation looms and rival Andrea Leadsom dropped out, positing the transition of power to May as soon as Wednesday. Given her quick succession to power, many want to learn everything they can about Britain's new PM, including information about Theresa May's husband, Philip John May.

The pair met in 1976 while Theresa was studying geography at the University of Oxford, and fittingly, she describes the 55-year-old British banker as "her rock." The details of their first meeting likewise included a future prime minister — according to TIME, the couple was introduced at a Conservative party student disco by Benazir Bhutto, who would serve as prime minister of Pakistan throughout the late 80's and 90's. The couple married four years later at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Wheatley in Oxfordshire, where Theresa's father served as a vicar.

Theresa says that Philip's role in her life became even more important after losing both of her parents within months of each other only a year after the pair was married. Theresa's father, Hubert Brasier, died of head and spinal injuries after being involved in a car crash. And just a few months afterward, her mother, Zaidee Braiser, died of complications from multiple sclerosis. Theresa was only 25 years old at the time of her parents' deaths. The Daily Mail reports that Theresa said her new husband was a "huge support" during the tragedy, and that his comfort was "very important" to her: "He was a real rock for me."

Since then, the couple has continued to focus their life together on their careers (hers, obviously, in politics and his as the current Relationship Manager at Capital Group), a shared love of cricket, and their godchildren. The couple does not have any children themselves, something Theresa has expressed some level of sadness over during interviews.

It seems that the strong foundation Theresa has found in Philip throughout the years would certainly serve her well as she makes the likely transition to Britain's prime minister in the coming days. With "her rock" Philip by her side, England will hopefully see Theresa steer the country toward greater stability in a post-Brexit world.